How do I … Find out where a Web site is physically based?

Another way to ask that question: Does this site originate where it should be, or possibly somewhere it shouldn’t be?

The solution for anyone who cares to know a server’s location is to use the traceroute protocol. That Web service basically tracks the string of physical hops that take your browser from your computer to the originating host and back. Sounds complex but the Net’s plumbing was designed with that option all along. Standalone traceroute utilities can be found all over the Web.

Another option — both the Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox browsers have add-ons that can quickly display a map pinpointing where a Web site is hosted.

Firefox’s Shazou add-on is totally slick. Not only does it pop up a Google map of the location; it also reveals the IP address, the organization that registered the site and that group’s official street address.

At least two similar Web utilities work with Internet Explorer

I’d be surprised if there weren’t add-ons for the Mac’s Safari browser as well.

It’s important to know the geography of the site you’re visiting.

Is the Washington Mutual bank site supposed to be in Albania? If that’s what your traceroute tool tells you, watch out.